Hair Volumizing Accessory

ABSTRACT

A hair volumizing device is disclosed which creates a horizontal or vertical lift to the hair adding volume to any style. The device is positioned underneath the hair and features colors which camouflage with the hair so that the device cannot easily be seen by others. The device features a hook and loop fastener attachment mechanism on the top and bottom side of the device that grasp the hair and hold the device in its desired position. The hook and loop fastener mechanism allows the device to be inserted and removed without damaging and removing the hair.

RELATED U.S. APPLICATION DATA

This application claims the benefit of provisional application No. 61/607,509, filed Mar. 6, 2012.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to a hair volumizing accessory; more particularly, to an accessory which can add volume to any hairstyle without damaging hair.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many with thinning hair or hair loss desire to have a voluminous, full and a healthy hair style. Chemicals such as mousses, shampoos and conditioners claim to plump hair locks. However, these chemicals tend to be expensive, cause the hair to look dull and may lead to further hair loss. Adding extensions or weaves can create a more voluminous look but often cause breakage and damage the hair when removed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention introduces a hair volumizing accessory which is easy to use, inexpensive and creates and adds volume to hair.

An aspect of an embodiment of the invention features an insert which is placed underneath the hair to provide a lift to the existing hair creating a thickened appearance.

A further aspect of an embodiment of the invention features a method for attaching multiple inserts to each other to add a vertical or horizontal lift to hair.

A further aspect of an embodiment of the invention features a solid accessory with an attachment mechanism that does not damage the hair when inserted or removed.

A further aspect of an embodiment of the invention features the accessory in colors which camouflage with the hair so the device cannot easily be seen by others.

Additional aspects, objectives, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hair volumizing accessory of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the hair volumizing accessory.

FIG. 3 illustrates the hair volumizing accessory on top of the head.

FIG. 4 illustrates multiple hair volumizing accessories placed on top of each other on the head.

FIG. 5 illustrates multiple hair volumizing accessories side by side on the head.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hair volumizing accessory 100 of the present invention. The accessory 100 features a single unitary one-piece hair insert 110. The inserts 110 are preferably UV Foam styling inserts that create height and volume on the top of the head. Alternate materials may be used which are anti-microbial and resist growth of mold or mildew. The insert 110 is an arc-like or crescent shape which is sized and shaped to conform to the contour of the wearer's head. The insert 110 features a top portion 115 and a bottom portion 116. The top portion 115 and the bottom portion 116 of the hair insert 110 are both arcs having identical dimensions. Both 115, 116 are curved in a downward direction so that when placed on the user's head, the bottom portion 116 curves with the contour of the wearer's head. The insert 110 is solid foam such that there are no openings on the insert and the hair placed on the insert remains uniform and held in place by the insert.

The top portion 115 is covered with a first strip of hook and loop fasteners 120. The strip 120 spans across the entire length and width of the top portion 115. The bottom portion 116 is covered with a second strip of hook and loop fasteners 121 which spans across the entire length and width of the bottom portion 116. The strips 120, 121 are sized and cut to the same size of the top and bottom portions 115, 116, respectively. The strips 120, 121 are adhered to the surfaces of the top and bottom portions 115, 116 such that the entire surfaces of the top and bottom portions 115, 116 are concealed and covered with the strips 120, 121. The strips are attached using preferably a heat or adhesive lamination process. However, alternate attachment methods may be used to secure the strips to the top and bottom portions so long as the method used secures the strips to the insert so the strips are not removed when the insert is in use on the wearer's head. The hook part features teeth with mushroom or capped ends which aid in securing the accessory to the user's hair. Unlike traditional Velcro®, the user does not have to slide the accessory onto the hair for it to attach to the hair. Rather, a small pushing force is used such that the fastener is simply placed in its desired location and can remain in that position until removed. To remove the accessory, the user simply pulls the accessory along the same plane in a 180 degree line out of the user's hair. The hair insert 110 is symmetrical along the y-axis.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the hair volumizing accessory 100. The one-piece insert structure 110 further features the top portion 115 having a top left end 115 a and a top right end 115 b. The top left end 115 a and top right end 115 b are the points on the insert where the top portion ends. The bottom portion 116 ends at a bottom left end 116 a a bottom right end 116 b. The top left end 115 a and bottom left end 116 a form a left base 130 and the top right end 115 b and the bottom right end 116 b form a right base 131. The left base 130 and right base 131 aid in supporting the insert 110 so that the insert 110 is free standing. The bases 130 and 131 are somewhat of a rectangular shape and the left base 130 is located on the left side of the insert 110 and the right base 131 is located on the right side of the insert. The left and right bases 130, 131 contact the wearer's head when the insert 110 is in use. The lightweight foam material is soft and durable. Alternate shapes for the base may be designed but the rectangular design is plausible for support of the insert.

The distance D between the highest point 140 of the arc of the top portion 115 and the highest point 150 of the arc of the bottom portion 116 ranges between 1.9 cm to 2.5 cm. The distance may be larger or smaller if it is desired to make a taller or shorter insert. The length L1 between the outside of the ends 115 a, 115 b ranges between 8.89 cm to 12.7 cm. The length L2 between the inside of the ends 116 a and 116 b ranges between 8.2 cm to 11.8 cm. The length may be longer or shorter if it is desired to make a longer or shorter insert to accommodate a wearer's head size. The insert 110 measures about 2 cm in thickness. The insert 110 has a front and back surface 200 which is the surface between the top portion 115 and bottom portion 116 on the front and back sides. Only the top portion 115 and bottom portion 116 have the hook and loop strips. The remaining portions of the insert are the lightweight foam. Additionally, an image, logo or design may be featured on the front or back surfaces to further personalize the insert.

The first 120 and second strips 121 of hook and loop fasteners grip the hairs of the wearer and hold the insert 110 in position on the wearer's head. The insert 110 adds volume to any style without damaging hair. FIG. 3 illustrates the hair volumizing accessory 100 on top of the head. To add volume, the wearer lifts and parts a section of hair, places and positions the second strip 121 of hook and loop fasteners on a scalp in the area underneath the section of hair, and places the lifted hair on the first strip 120 of hook and loop fasteners. The sectioned hair conceals the hair insert. To further camouflage the insert 110, the insert may be featured in various colors similar to the hair colors such as blonde, brown or black, for example. Also, the insert 110 may be sized in a small, medium and large size for all size wearers and to create a vertical or horizontal lift to hair by attaching multiple inserts to each other or by positioning the inserts in a position to create graduated or vertical volume.

FIG. 4 illustrates multiple hair volumizing accessories 100 placed on top of each other on the head. Each of the accessories have the features described above. They can be stacked on top of each other to create a higher volume. A second hair insert 400 with the same features described in the first insert 110 has a third strip of hook and loop fasteners attached to the top of the second hair insert and a fourth strip of hook and loop fasteners attached to the bottom of the second hair insert. The top of the second hair insert's strip of hook and loop fasteners can be connected to the bottom strip of hook and loop fasteners of the first inserts to create a higher volume. The fourth strip of hook and loop fasteners of the second insert contacts the scalp. A third insert can be added and stacked to the second insert to create an even higher volume using the same technique described.

FIG. 5 illustrates multiple hair volumizing accessories 100 side by side on the head. The inserts 110 can be placed side by side to create a gradual poof. Alternatively, the inserts may be placed vertically on the sides of the head for extra volume on the side of the hair. As described above, the hair is would be lifted in the sections that the wearer desires to add volume. The inserts are placed underneath the section of the lifted hair and then the lifted hair is placed on the top hook and loop strips such that the strips hold the underside of the lifted hair in position and the bottom hook and loop strips contact the scalp and hair underneath the section to further hold the inserts in position.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A hair volumizing accessory comprising: A hair insert, wherein the hair insert is a single unitary one-piece structure, wherein the hair insert comprises a top portion and a bottom portion; a first strip of hook and loop fasteners attached to the top portion and a second strip of hook and loop fasteners attached to the bottom portion.
 2. The hair volumizing accessory of claim 1, wherein the hair insert is a lightweight foam material.
 3. The hair volumizing accessory of claim 1, wherein the hair insert is an arc-like shape configured to fit a contour of a wearer's head.
 4. The hair volumizing accessory of claim 1, wherein the hair insert is symmetrical along the y-axis.
 5. The hair volumizing accessory of claim 1, wherein the first strip of hook and loop fasteners substantially cover the top portion of the hair insert and the second strip of hook and loop fasteners substantially cover the bottom portion of the hair insert.
 6. The hair volumizing accessory of claim 1, wherein the one-piece structure further comprises the top portion featuring a top left end and a top right end and the bottom portion featuring a bottom left end and a bottom right end, wherein the top left end and bottom left end form a left base and the top right end and the bottom right end form a right base, wherein the left and right base aid in supporting the insert so that the insert is free standing.
 7. The hair volumizing tool of claim 1, wherein the first and second strips of hook and loop fasteners grip the hairs of the wearer and hold the insert in position on the wearer's head.
 8. A hair volumizing accessory system comprising: A first hair insert, wherein the first hair insert is a single unitary one-piece structure, wherein the first hair insert comprises a first top portion and a first bottom portion; a first strip of hook and loop fasteners attached to the first top portion and a second strip of hook and loop fasteners attached to the bottom portion; a second hair insert, wherein the second hair insert is a single unitary one-piece structure, wherein the first hair insert comprises a second top portion and a second bottom portion; a third strip of hook and loop fasteners attached to the second top portion and a fourth strip of hook and loop fasteners attached to the second bottom portion; wherein the third strip of hook and loop fasteners receives the second strip of hook and loop fasteners to create a higher volume in a wearer's hair.
 9. The hair volumizing accessory system of claim 8, wherein the hair inserts are a lightweight foam material.
 10. The hair volume accessory system of claim 8, wherein the hair inserts are arc-like shapes.
 11. A method of adding volume to a section of hair comprising: providing a hair insert, wherein the hair insert is a single unitary one-piece structure, wherein the hair insert comprises a top portion and a bottom portion; providing a first strip of hook and loop fasteners attached to the top portion and a second strip of hook and loop fasteners attached to the bottom portion; lifting the section of hair; positioning the section of hair onto the first strip of hook and loop fasteners; positioning the second strip of hook and loop fasteners on a scalp in the area of the section of hair, wherein the section of the hair conceals the hair insert.
 12. The method of adding volume to a section of hair of claim 11, wherein the hair insert is a lightweight foam material.
 13. The method of adding volume to a section of hair of claim 11, wherein the hair insert is an arc-like shape configured to fit a contour of a wearer's head. 